The National Museum of Natural History Will Finally Open This Year

In January 2017, we first heard the news that the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of the Philippines' third building, will soon open to showcase the country's biodiversity and put on display our evolving flora and fauna. It's already 2018 and the doors still haven't opened (except that one-day open house in October). Finally, the long wait is over. It was announced that the inauguration of the National Museum of Natural History is on May 18 in celebration of International Museum Day.

IMAGE Trickie Lopa (Used with permission)

IMAGE Trickie Lopa (Used with permission)

The site of the new museum is the former building of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce, then later the Department of Tourism. It was built in 1939 with Neo-classical architecture. Restoration, led by architectural firm Dominic Galicia Architects and interior design company Periquet Galicia, commenced in 2013 following their design pitch of the Tree of Life metaphor. Now, a glass dome lets natural light stream into the courtyard where a huge structure of a double-helix DNA can be found.

You can see this and more when you visit the National Museum of Natural History after inauguration day. By the way, like the other two buildings of the National Museum, entrance is free—bring your friends and the whole family!

The National Museum of the Philippines is at P. Burgos Drive, Rizal Park, Manila. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit National Museum's website.